Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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CLASS ORATION THE RIGHT TO BE HAPPY “We hold these truths to be self-evi- dent:—That all men . . . are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Famous words, wise words, just words, and most assuredly, true words are these from the Declaration of Independence known to every American heart. We have, if rights at all exist, a right to human happiness; and believing it our right, we all, whether youthful or aged, prudent or indiscreet, affluent or indigent, we all nurse a con- stant desire for a happy life. Different as the idea of happiness is to each one of us, far from us or near to us as it may be, it is “our being’s end and aim”; it is the ulti- mate purpose of all our earthly enterprise. Aristotle declares it “the highest of all realizable goods,” yet happiness has been and continues to be one of the most elu- sive objects in the entire world. “We are charmed with the distant views of hap- piness, But near approaches make the prospect less.” If we walk after it, it runs. If we pursue it with a swifter pace, it moves still more swiftly and keeps just ahead of us, sometimes quickly disappearing around a corner, leaving us quite amazed, astonished, and rather despondent. Why is this so? Who is to blame for it? Is there a remedy? To the period preceding our present world-wide depression, to those past years of prosperity and plenty, to those times when economic and labor problems were relatively scarce, we all cast back yearn- ing glances; yet in truth that period of leisure should be looked upon with indig- nation, for it has produced thousands of what Rev. Mr. Fosdick terms “superficial pleasure-seekers.” They searched for happiness in extravagance and lavishness. They imagined that they could be happy with two cars instead of one, with gaudy and finical suits and dresses instead of simple clothing, with elegant mansions where socials and dances could be held instead of a mere sanitary and comfort- able home. How have they endured the sufferings, the privations, and the losses of these last four years, when in the business world their resources have decreased, their liabilities have increased, when in private life their homes are taken from them, their children are deprived of their education? All their pleasures were ex- ternal; now, they have nothing within themselves to rely on. They sink into de- spondency; they are prostrated by dis- couragement, they are dragged down by a disheartening desperation. Thousands have committed suicide, while others can find nothing but bitterness in life, for they know only of material pleasures and noth- ing of spiritual satisfaction. On the other hand, these “four years of enforced abstension from extrav- agance” have brought to many a saner philosophy of what is really worth doing and aspiring for. James Truslow Adams, well-known author of “The Epic of Amer- ica,” expresses this thought: To attain to genuine satisfaction with life one must live in its deeps and not on the surface. Many of the deepest and most abiding sat- isfactions can be had at little or no cost in money. Truly, the depression has taught us, if it has done nothing else of worth, that we can be happy with far less than we ever dreamed we could get along with. It has taught us that happiness is not allied with the satisfaction of our material needs and desires, that happiness does not come through superficial pleas- ure-seeking. Then what are the essentials of hap- [ NINETEEN ]

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ENioR Class History We, the Class of 1933, entered Somerville High School as Sophomores on Septem- ber 9, 1930. A few days later we were welcomed by Mr. Avery, who explained to a puzzled group of young people the method of procedure in the Senior High School. As Sophomores we were in various activities, but it was not until March 25, 1931, that we elected the following officers: President, John Ronan; Vice-President, Marion Strong; Secretary, Frances Hayes; Treasurer, Joseph Scanlan. To bring a successful year to a close—at least we considered it successful, though perhaps our teachers might have thought our marks were not as high as they should be—an informal dance was held on the afternoon of May 15, 1931. This was an enjoyable function and kept us in good spirits until the end of the year. Our Junior year found us naturally more accustomed to the school. More mem- bers took part in class activities and our contribution to athletics was notable. During our Junior year the class was under the leadership of the following officers: President, John Ronan; Vice-President, Marion Strong; Secretary, Frances Hayes; Treasurer, John Sparkes. Of all school activities perhaps the National Honor Society is the one wherein membership is most coveted, and we were indeed proud when we found that many mem- bers of our class were chosen. Perhaps it was success along this line that spurred us on to make Junior Night successful, at any rate we had a very enjoyable time. Miss Viola Jackson supervised this class function, and was ably assisted by our capable committee: Dennis Dempsey, Margaret Kenney and Robert Miller. This social event provided a fitting close to a very enjoyable year. Our Senior year has passed so rapidly and so pleasantly that it is indeed hard to describe. The following officers were elected to lead us through the happiest year of our school career: President, Robert Miller; Vice-President, Marion Strong; Secretary, Fran- ces Hayes; Treasurer, Joseph Scanlan. The National Honor Society again honored mem- bers of our class, who were initiated at a very impressive ceremony. Senior Play came all too soon, signifying the beginning of the various functions which lead to graduation. Under the supervision of Miss Ruby Sutherland aided by Irving Humphrey, Margaret Bates, Constance Benner, Edward Copithorne, and Ecio Luciano, our committee, a very excellent play was presented. Class Day and Senior Night brought to a close a very eventful year. Somerville High School has done much to prepare us for the responsibilities of life. May we never shirk our responsibilities. May our record in the years to come be an adequate testimonial of our affection and regard for our high school and its teach- ing staff. Frances Hayes, Secretary. [ EIGHTEEN ]

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piness? Dr. Samuel Johnson once said, “Work! and don't whine! Indeed one of the most durable satisfactions of life comes from doing the work that fits one's nature, from doing the work that one knows he is best fitted to do. “But, you say, “how many such fortunate people are there, especially in this time of depres- sion? Too few perhaps, but those who do whatever work they may attain, doing it well, whether it be congenial or not, derive very real satisfaction from it. Again you say, “But today there is no work. All too true if you mean work that brings large salaries and wages, but as for useful work, there is much to be done. A certain wealthy and successful wool merchant was not long ago a victim of the depression. He lost his entire busi- ness. Everything was gone except a bare living. At the present time he receives no income, but is he idle? Every day he works harder than before, his services of- fered to the Boston Relief Commission, helping those less fortunate than himself. Hard work, no income, yet he comes home happier than he has been for many years. He is a living example of John Dwight’s poem of a century ago:— “Work and thou wilt bless the day, Ere the toil be done; They that work not, cannot pray, Cannot feel the sun.” Work then and not idleness is an essential for true human happiness. A second important source of happiness lies in that spirit of optimism that is de- rived from playing life as a game. Pro- fessor George Herbert Palmer said of his famous wife, Alice Freeman Palmer: “She got the greatest joy out of life, for it was to her a game in which she was always matching her skill with that of a hidden opponent. There is a constant fear of change in many people who feel that in order to be happy, one must feel secure. They shrink from any feeling of insecur- ity. They dread to be in a position where circumstances may oppose their conveni- ence. They lack a game optimism; for with it one has the ability to feel secure in all his insecurity, with it one can easily endure the tests and trials of life, with it one can, in spite of any undesired change, live happily. But even with these two important es- sentials, one cannot live a happy life un- less he has an unselfish heart. Oh, what a delightfully happy world this would be if we could but obliterate that demoniacal spirit of selfishness from our souls! Sel- fishness, the curse and sin of the ages! Because of it crimes are committed, courts are crowded, jails prosper. Because of it our economical system, our political sys- tem is unsound. Because of it labor prob- lem is acute, and thousands of unemployed walk the streets, sleep on doorsteps, shel- terless, foodless, clothesless. Because of it wars are waged, bombing, blasting, devas- tating the lands, killing and crippling and deforming millions upon millions of peo- ple. Indeed, because of selfishness, every sorrow, every suffering, every unhappiness is engendered. It is truly said that not one single evil can be conceived which is not traceable to the same vulgar source of selfishness. Selfishness in all its forms, jealousy, greed, revenge, prejudice, hatred, isolation, they caused the uneasy situation which exists in Europe today. France, jealous of her neighbors’ mounting power; Italy, greedy for more arms and ammuni- tions; Germany with its keen desire for revenge; England, Austria, Hungary, the Little Entente, all deeply prejudiced against each other, each suspecting, doubting, hating one another; the United States with its policy of isolation, not willing to exert its potent influence, for it might mean self-sacrifice; all these man- ifestations of selfishness are the cause of the present international unrest; all this aggregation of self-interest takes from the world’s people their rightful happiness. Such is the relation of a collective sel- fishness with happiness, but what of in- dividual selfishness and happiness? Can these two exist together? Is it true hap- piness when only one person enjoys it? [ TWENTY ]